How I’m Finally Nourishing my Feminine with Skincare

The past two years, I’ve been teaching, writing and practicing a lot of inner femininity work. I’ve been looking at the places in my life that are holding the most stale energy- the energy that’s running on the pursuit of doing rather than being.

Rather than be a human being, I’ve attempted to be a human doing. Even when I wasn’t aware of it, I was trying to place my identity into something. At one point of my life, it was music (yes, I used to play four instruments!). At another point it was being the perfect daughter, then vegetarianism, then bodybuilding and more recently, my business.

Even when I thought I was finally “over” all that, I found myself having mini anxiety attacks when my identity felt threatened and I’d have to do the work all over again to separate from whatever it was that I was clinging onto.

An endless goal for me has been to separate from whatever it is I’m currently into and instead to just enjoy it as a spirit having a human experience. There’s no need to become the thing I like because who I am is way too vast to be downgraded into one word.

I’m not Maddy, the writer. The daughter. The coach. I’m so much more than these little labels, and being able to detach from these words has created limitless freedom for me. I don’t have to live like a brand. I don’t have to be a coach when I’m with friends. I don’t have to worry about combining articles about sex next to articles around religion next to articles around astrology.

When I lived like a masculine-minded perfectionist, my entire life needed to be organized. I needed lists of who my greatest friends were, color-coated calendars, obsessively clean counters (still working on this one), rigidity, routine and unified structure.

I had NO idea how to live in a space of black and white, and because I had no flow in my life, I also had tons of insecurities that bubbled up as a result. When I was so entirely stressed out about not knowing if I hurt so-and-so’s feelings, I would cope with the anxiety by perfecting my meal plan or exercise routine. It’s the one thing that gave me structure and control.

A life without control reeked absolute havoc on my mental state.

Obviously, this is pretty tough when you live in a world that has very few black and whites. So what’s the best option?

The reason why I have so many articles and podcasts on the Feminine and the Masculine is because I truly believe, deep in my bones, that harmonizing these two energies will result in so much more trust, flow and relief in everyone’s life no matter if you’re female or male.

I went on my own journey down this path quite a while ago, and I’m still working on stepping more into my Femininity to find more and more harmony with my inner child, wild woman, goddess, mother, lover and so many other facets of who I am.

More recently, I’ve noticed that there’s been one thing missing from my Feminine “work” (though it’s definitely more like play).

To sum it up as simply as I can, it’s: grounded, earthy ritualistic beauty.

When I started on my Feminine journey a while ago, I tackled the issue around sex that I had been carrying around for a long period of time. Some of the things I did to help create progress in that area include breaking down sexual beliefs that were holding me hostage, shame and buying myself beautiful lingerie no matter my size.

That said, I continued to neglect my skin- the largest organ on my body. I’ll be honest: my momma gave me some decent skin (and I know that’s not the case for everybody). Ever since I was in high school, I’ve been slathering on Neutrogena facewipes, Dove soap and whatever else I could find at the nearest drug store. It’s been working pretty well, I thought.

However.

There are things going on beneath the surface. Yes, the softness of my skin has changed over the years (not quite where I’d like it to be these days), but what’s more important is what’s going into my skin.

There are 1,300 chemicals banned from beauty products just in the European Union alone. Guess how many the United States has? 11. Guess when that was last updated? 1938.

And guess how many new chemicals have been introduced over the last century? Thousands.

So that only means that if our chemicals aren’t being regulated and pretty much anything can be put into a skincare product, companies can label everything they sell as “safe,” sell it to our families and have a clear conscious. This is scary.

Something I love to point out to women who are new to the conversation of Femininity, is the power of a woman’s longing. I believe a woman’s longing is one of the strongest catalysts for change because a female’s longing is rooted in emotional, not logic, like a male’s.

Sure, we can use statistics, documents and fear-mongering science to form business plans for change, but a Feminine plan is different. A Feminine plan is built from a striking yearning to see things change. I’ve never had a baby (can’t wait though!) but I hear that women often get breast pains when they are separated from their baby because their bodies naturally crave to feed. They crave to take care of their baby because a woman consists of the only two things a baby needs to survive: food and love. A woman’s body IS food and nourishment in and of itself. How powerful is that?

A woman’s ability to create change is endless. She is powerful. She is intuitive. She is the catalyst of our world. While having structures and action plans are magnificent tools for getting things into gear, it’s a woman’s longing that starts the entire process. It’s a woman’s longing for change, for growth and for protection of our people that actually makes a difference.

And so my friends, this brings me full circle. Gregg Renfrew created a company called Beautycounter that was entirely created from one woman’s longing. Gregg stepped into her Femininity to ask herself, “How do I want to preserve and protect not only the planet but to also protect others?”

Beautycounter

Beautycounter is a beauty and skincare line that has banned 1,500 harmful chemicals that can be found almost everywhere else. They have a rigorous selection process that includes banning ingredients intentionally, screening thoroughly, learning constantly, sourcing responsibly and sharing transparently.

As much as I wish we could all trust every single company on the market to protect us and our families, we can’t. It’s a shame, but I’m grateful somebody is doing something about it.

Last cool stat I’d like to share is that in May 2016, Beautycounter received the highest score in the Chemical Footpring Project’s inaugural survey. They’re among 24 pioneering businesses both small (millions in annual revenue) and large (tens of billions in annual revenue) to have their chemical management practices closely examined.

So what originally got me interested in learning about this?

First, I watched a documentary called The Human Experiment on Netflix. If you’re even remotely interested in learning about the stuff we’re putting on our bodies daily, I highly recommend you check it out.

Secondly, like I was saying earlier in this article, I’ve been feeling an immense desire to pay attention to one of the areas in my life I have been neglected. To put it bluntly… beauty. I have not been taking care of my skin in the same way I’ve been taking care of my body, and I’d like to just take one step to change that. Instead of using fear-mongering tactics about why we should all be afraid of everything around us, Beautycounter shares their knowledge kindly. They want to nurture those who are interested, not cause another orthorexia epidemic, but with skincare. They simply want to make it that much more easier for regular folks to make one small change in their life to prevent cancer, infertitity, hormonal imbalances, and so many other issues these chemicals are causing.

Thirdly, I was craving a ritual of some sort with my beauty. I love reading about women adorning themselves with paint, gold, herbs and beautiful clothing each morning, taking their sweet time to indulge in their own goddess essence. It’s beautiful. And while I would read about these things, I never did them. I continued to grab my “fast food” skincare, slather it on and not think twice.

These days I’ve been feeling called to slow down and enjoy having a morning ritual. In the same way I am more mindful when I eat food that’s farm to table, I’m more mindful with my skincare routine when I know just how delicious it is for my body.

Here are my recommended products to get you started! (click on each picture to be taken directly there)

I’ve decided to partner with this company because I dig their mission. On top of that, I saw it as a really wonderful business to incorporate with my own business. I work with many women looking to build their own businesses, but I also speak with a lot of women who desire to build a business but have no idea where to start. I believe in this company, I truly do. I’ve been asked to partner up with many companies before (essential oils, “health” companies, etc) but as much as I loved those companies (you better believe I use essential oils!), I never really felt called to combine forces with them.

Beautycounter was different for me. I felt a really strong connection with the founder, Gregg, and her powerful influence in the United States. I adored how she was so passionately making a big difference, possibly helping families become toxic-free so kids aren’t getting their periods at nine anymore, or families can have kids once more.

What now?

If you’re interested in learning more about Beautycounter and Feminine Skincare I welcome you to reach out to me. I would love to have you join my team, especially if you’re a woman who’s interested in building your own business but have no idea where to start. This could be the exact thing you’ve been waiting for.

I’ve created a Facebook group to share what I’m learning in my own skincare journey. This is not a group I will be adding people to without their permission (I truly dislike when people do that), so simply request to be added and I will add you! You can leave anytime you want. There’s a chance this will be a small group since I’m not going to add thousands of people from my friend list, but hey, if it’s five people who are truly interested versus five thousand who didn’t ask to be in there, I’m a happy camper!

I will also be hosting online socials where I’ll share tidbits of information that I’m learning and other insights on how to further Nourish Your Feminine with Skincare and Beauty.

As a thank you for joining our mission, we’ll shower you with rewards! Your Band of Beauty membership gives you access to exclusive perks, including special savings, behind the scenes content and more … think of our Band of Beauty Membership like your exclusive VIP card to discounts, rebates and special offers. When you enroll you’ll receive a free gift valued at almost double the cost of the enrollment … Beautycounter really believes in showering their tribe in beautiful things, and so they want you to start your Band of Beauty experience on a beautiful note. It’s a no-brainer way to start your journey to safer and healthier beauty all around! Join HERE!

Our $29 Annual Membership Includes:

• 15% back in product credit to be used on future purchases
• Free shipping off all orders of $100 or more
• Receive a welcome gift (a free product that varies each month)
• Exclusive product offers

It’s really the ultimate VIP set up for you to have the absolute most beautiful experience with Beautycounter possible. Be sure to select “Madelyn Moon” as your consultant – I offer great support and gifts to my members.

Join as a consultant and save 25% off your own orders and take advantage of the opportunity to earn some additional income by educating others about the skin care industry and how to make safer choices. Become a voice for change!!

Some consultants earn a full time income, while others do it on the side to share their passions and supplement their regular income. It is very flexible and can be whatever you want it to be!

We are a direct retail company, we do not require that you spend a minimum amount on products every month. We have a low start-up fee of $85 (which I will help you earn right back!).

This is the right time to join Beautycounter! We are growing fast! Most consultants are the first in their area and are able to build their business and spread the word quickly!

Click the “Become a Consultant” button below and enter your email and other required info to create your account. It will say Choose a Mentor and give you an option that should default to “Madelyn Moon.” If it doesn’t, click “Select a Different Mentor” and put in “Madelyn Moon” in the first and last name section.

Add your Enrollment Kit into your cart – this is the package they require you to purchase if you want to be a consultant. It includes marketing material and catalogs.

You can choose to add one of the special Enrollment product packages to your shopping cart. These are deeply discounted, but not required, though the most successful consultants start with an Enrollment package as the packages help you launch your business with strength and a boost. You can shop a la carte and enjoy 25% off immediately, or take advantage of the Enrollment package and pocket a 40-44% discount for yourself.

Finish the enrollment page and place your order…and then, boom! I’ll be in touch to celebrate and strategize with you!

Let me know if you’re interested in getting involved in any way. You can create your own business or just become a passionate feminine self-care goddess. Either way, I love you and I’m so grateful you let me share this with you!